Letter: 'All of the above' energy needed

In response to the June 29 Guest Opinion, “The next steps for the EPA's clean power plan,” shaping our state's energy future means saying no to any and all efforts to expand natural gas infrastructure in Massachusetts.

In response to the June 29 Guest Opinion, “The next steps for the EPA’s clean power plan,” shaping our state’s energy future means saying no to any and all efforts to expand natural gas infrastructure in Massachusetts.

Natural gas is the destroyer disguised as savior when it comes to our energy needs; the risks of methane leakage and ruined drinking water from fracking are far too great.

An aggressive response to reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions is needed immediately. Yes, President Obama’s climate action plan is a bold step, but stronger steps are necessary to avoid the worst of worldwide warming. It’s also necessary to challenge those who assert that efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will “kill jobs.”

In fact, according to a new study by Regional Economic Models Inc., a federal carbon fee with all collected revenues rebated to the public as a dividend would create 2.2 million jobs over the next decade.*

Instead of putting our faith in the false promise of natural gas, let’s work for the widespread implementation of truly clean energy. The only “all of the above” approach we should support is an “all of the above” effort to keep carbon and methane below ground.